Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

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Composite Structures
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct

Behavior of one-way RC slabs flexurally strengthened with prestressed NSM T

CFRP laminates – Assessment of influencing parameters
M.R. Mostakhdemin Hosseini , S.J.E. Dias, J.A.O. Barros
⁎

ISISE, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: The efficacy of the NSM technique using prestressed CFRP laminates for the flexural strengthening of RC slabs
Prestressed CFRP laminates was assessed experimentally. The results obtained indicated that the application of NSM CFRP laminates with a
NSM technique certain level of prestress is a suitable strategy to increase the load-carrying capacity of slabs in terms of service
RC slabs flexurally strengthened limit state (SLS) conditions. The higher is the CFRP prestressed level the larger is the performance of the NSM
Experimental results
technique in the improvement of the behavior of the slabs at SLS conditions, but the deflection at the maximum
Analytical approach
load of the slabs decreased with the increase of the prestress level. The prestressed NSM CFRP laminates were
more effective in the slabs with the lower concrete strength class, mainly at SLS conditions. The increase of the
percentage of the flexural reinforcement had a detrimental effect on the performance of prestressed NSM CFRP
laminates. An analytical formulation was developed for predicting the cracking, yielding and maximum loads of
RC slabs flexurally strengthened with prestressed NSM CFRP laminates and a very good predictive performance
was obtained. An upper limit is proposed for the prestress level for ensuring a compromise of ductility and
strengthening effectiveness of this type of structural elements.

1. Introduction
The application of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) materials
for the repair or for the strengthening of RC (reinforced concrete)
members has augmented considerably during the last few decades due
to the high durability (immunity to corrosion), excellent strength-to-
weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios, electromagnetic neutrality, fast
execution with low labor, easy to handle, and unlimited access in
geometry, size and dimension of these advanced composite materials
[1].
The two major techniques in terms of the flexural strengthening of
RC structural elements with CFRP are EBR (Externally Bonded
Reinforcement) and NSM (Near Surface Mounted). In the EBR tech-
nique, laminates or sheets are bonded to external tension surfaces of the
elements [2–5], while in the NSM technique, circular, rectangular or
square cross section CFRP bars are installed into pre-cut slits opened on
the concrete cover of the elements to be strengthened [4–11].
Based on experimental research, the strengthening effectiveness of
the NSM technique is higher than the EBR technique, mainly when
slender rectangular cross section of CFRP laminates are used in the NSM
technique [4,5,7]. This fact is justified by the better CFRP-concrete
bond performance (higher surface of the CFRP bonded to concrete
substrate regarding its cross section) that can be mobilized in the NSM
technique with CFRP laminates, which provides a more efficient use of
the CFRP (increase of the ratio of CFRP strain at failure to its maximum
strain) [12]. Furthermore, as a consequence of the protection of the
CFRP by the concrete cover, NSM technique reduce significantly the
probability of mechanical damage, harm resulting from acts of vand-
alism, and aging effects. NSM does not require surface preparation work
and, after cutting the thin slits where the CFRP laminates are installed
(a single saw cut is normally enough for obtaining the slit), requires
relatively small installation time.
Several experimental programs have been carried out to assess the
performance of RC beams [4–10] and slabs [13–14] flexurally
strengthened with passive NSM CFRP laminates. These studies de-
monstrated that the use of passive NSM CFRP laminates increases sig-
nificantly the load carrying capacity of RC structural elements for the
ultimate limit states (ULS) conditions (with a very effective mobiliza-
tion of the high tensile properties of the CFRP). However, its overall
performance for deflection levels corresponding to the serviceability
limit state (SLS) conditions is only slightly improved. Applying prestress
in the NSM CFRP laminates for flexural strengthening can increase
significantly the load carrying capacity of the RC structural elements
not only in SLS but also in ULS conditions [15–20]. The prestress can
also contribute for closing existing cracks, to decrease the number and
width of cracks that can be formed in SLS, to decrease the tensile stress

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: hoseini_engineer@yahoo.com (M.R.M. Hosseini).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.112259
Received 31 December 2019; Received in revised form 24 February 2020; Accepted 23 March 2020
Available online 27 March 2020
0263-8223/ © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al.
in the existing flexural reinforcement, and increase the shear capacity of
these elements. Thus, a cost-effective solution to increase, not only the
structural performance, but also the durability of the strengthened RC
structures seems to be the application of prestressed CFRP laminates.
In this study, the effectiveness of the NSM technique with pre-
stressed CFRP laminates for the flexural strengthening of one-way RC
slabs was assessed by executing an extensive experimental research. In
this context, the influence of the CFRP prestress level, the concrete
strength and the percentage of existing flexural reinforcement was ap-
praised. The experimental program carried out is described in detail
(slab specimens, series of tests, materials properties, test setup and
monitoring system), the results of the tests are displayed and discussed,
and the derived relevant conclusions are pointed out. The performance
of a proposed analytical formulation to predict the cracking, yielding
and maximum loads of the tested RC slabs flexurally strengthened with
prestressed NSM CFRP laminates is assessed. Furthermore, a metho-
dology is proposed to obtain an upper limit of the prestress level ap-
plicable to the CFRP laminates that assures a suitable compromise be-
tween ductility and load carrying capacity. A parametric study was also
executed to highlight the influence of the percentage of existing tensile
flexural reinforcement and the concrete strength on the evaluation of
the above mentioned upper limit for the NSM CFRP prestress level.
2. Experimental program
2.1. Slab specimens and series of tests
The experimental program comprised thirteen one-way RC slabs
that were divided in three series (series A with 5 slabs and series B and
C, each one with 4 slabs). The slab dimensions and reinforcement de-
tails are illustrated in Fig. 1. The slabs had a rectangular cross section of
600 mm × 120 mm, 2600 mm total length, 2400 mm between supports
and a shear span of 900 mm. The cross section’s depth of these speci-
mens was obtained considering the ACI-318 (ACI 2011) [21] re-
commendation about the minimum value for the depth of a simply
supported one-way RC slab (l/20 = 2400/20 = 120 mm, where l is the
distance between supports).
For each of the abovementioned series of tests, the adopted re-
inforcement was designed to impose flexural failure in the slabs. The
same longitudinal steel reinforcement in the compression zone (3 bars
of 6 mm diameter – 3ϕ6) was provided for all tested slabs. In terms of
tensile steel reinforcements, 4 bars of 8 mm diameter (4ϕ8) were
adopted for the specimens of series A and B, while 4 bars of 10 mm
diameter (4ϕ10) were used in the specimens of series C. For transverse
reinforcement, 6 mm diameter stirrups with spacing 300 mm (ϕ6@
Fig. 1. Geometry of the slabs, steel reinforcements common to all of the tested slabs, support and load conditions (dimensions in mm).
2
Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259
300 mm) were applied in all of the slabs of the experimental program,
whose main function was to guarantee the spacing between top and
bottom flexural reinforcements.
Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of the slabs of the tested
series. In each series, one slab was used as a reference and the rest of
slabs were strengthened with two NSM CFRP laminates that had a cross
section with a thickness of 1.4 mm and a depth of 20 mm (Fig. 2a). The
length of the laminates in non-prestressed strengthened slabs was
2300 mm (Fig. 3c). According to the Fig. 3d, the extremities of the
prestressed laminates were not bonded to the concrete in a length of
150 mm in order to provide the same bond length adopted in the non-
prestressed strengthened slabs (2300 mm).
The thickness of the concrete cover of the longitudinal tensile steel
bars was 31 mm (Fig. 1). The average value of the concrete compressive
strength (fcm) for series A and C was 39.5 MPa, and for series B was
15 MPa. According to Table 1, the specimens of the series A and B had a
percentage of tensile flexural reinforcement (ρsl) of 0.39%, while the
specimens of the series C had a ρsl = 0.62%. For all of the series of slabs
the percentage of CFRP (ρf) was 0.085%. The prestress load that was
applied in the strengthened slabs was a portion of the ultimate tensile
strength of the CFRP laminates (0%, 20%, 40% and 50% prestress level
in series A; 0%, 20% and 40% prestress level in series B and C).
Series A had the intent of evaluating the effect of the prestress level
in NSM CFRP laminates (0%, 20%, 40% and 50%) for the flexural
strengthening of one-way RC slabs of moderately high fcm (39.5 MPa)
and relatively low ρsl (0.39%), which is a little bit higher than the
minimum ρsl according to the major part of design codes for RC struc-
tures. The efficacy of NSM technique with prestressed CFRP laminates
for the flexural strengthening of low-strength concrete one-way slabs
was assessed in the tests of the slabs of series B (fcm = 15 MPa). In fact,
the major part of the prestressed levels (0%, 20% and 40%) used in
slabs of series A were also adopted in slabs of series B, and the differ-
ence between the slabs of series A and B was only the concrete strength:
15 MPa in series B and 39.5 MPa in series A. To specifically evaluate the
influence of existing tensile flexural reinforcement percentage (ρsl) on
the performance of prestressed NSM CFRP laminates for the flexural
strengthening of one-way RC slabs, series C of tests was carried out. In
this series, three of the four prestressed levels (0%, 20% and 40%) used
in slabs of series A were also adopted in slabs of series C, and the dif-
ference between the slabs of series A and C was only the percentage ρsl:
0.62% in series C and 0.39% in series A.
Details about the strengthening procedures of the tested RC slabs
with non-prestressed (Fig. 2b) and prestressed (Fig. 2c) NSM CFRP la-
minates can be found in [20].
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Table 1
General information of the RC slabs of series A, B and C.
Series Slab fcm (MPa) ρsl (%)(1) NSM CFRP flexural strengthening Level of prestress (%)

(2)
Quantity ρf (%)

Series A A-REF 39.5 0.394 – – –

A-S0 2 CFRP laminates of 1.4 × 20 mm2 cross section (Af = 2 × 1.4 × 20 = 56 mm2) 0.085 0
A-S20 20
A-S40 40
A-S50 50
Series B B-REF 15.0 0.394 – – –
B-S0 2 CFRP laminates of 1.4 × 20 mm2 cross section (Af = 2 × 1.4 × 20 = 56 mm2) 0.085 0
B-S20 20
B-S40 40
Series C C-REF 39.5 0.623 – – –
C-S0 2 CFRP laminates of 1.4 × 20 mm2 cross section (Af = 2 × 1.4 × 20 = 56 mm2) 0.085 0
C-S20 20
C-S40 40

(1)
The percentage of the existing flexural reinforcement was obtained from sl = (Asl (b w × ds )) × 100 , where Asl is the cross sectional area of the longitudinal
tensile steel reinforcement (see Fig. 1), bw = 600 mm is the width of the slab’s cross section, and ds is the distance from extreme compression fibre to the centroid of
tensile reinforcement.
(2)
The CFRP percentage was obtained from f = (Af (bw × df )) × 100 , where Af is the cross sectional area of the NSM CFRP laminates and df is the distance from
extreme compression fibre to the centroid of the NSM CFRP laminates.

Fig. 2. a) NSM CFRP flexural strengthening configuration (dimensions in mm), b) application of passive NSM CFRP laminates, c) application of the prestress in the
NSM CFRP laminates, d) and e) test-setup.

2.2. Materials properties this purpose, direct compression tests [22,23] were carried out using
cylinders with 150 mm of diameter and 300 mm of height. At the age of
The evaluation of the compressive strength and the elasticity mod- the test of the slabs of series A and C, the average value of the com-
ulus of the concrete was done when the slab tests were executed. For pressive strength (fcm) and elasticity modulus (Ecm) of the concrete was,

3
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 3. Positions of the: a) displacement transducers (LVDTs); b) strain gauges in the monitored longitudinal tensile steel bars; c) strain gauges in the NSM CFRP
laminates of non-prestressed slab; d) strain gauges in the NSM CFRP laminates of prestressed slabs (dimensions in mm).

respectively, 39.5 MPa and 32.6 GPa, while the slabs of series B pre-
sented fcm = 15.0 MPa and Ecm = 25.0 GPa.
Uniaxial tensile tests were carried out [24] to obtain the tensile
properties of the steel bars used as internal reinforcement in the tested
slabs. The average value of the yield stress of the steel bars of 6, 8, and
10 mm diameter was 528, 556 and 548 MPa, respectively, while the
average value of the tensile strength for these corresponding bars was:
651, 680 and 670 MPa.
The tensile properties of the adopted CFRP laminate for this ex-
perimental program (CFK 150/2000 S&P laminates) were evaluated by
uniaxial tensile tests following the recommendations of ISO 527-5 [25].
The average value of the tensile strength, elasticity modulus and ulti-
mate strain of this CFRP laminate was 2770 MPa, 176 GPa, and 15.8‰,
respectively.
To bond the NSM CFRP laminates to the concrete substrate, the S&P
Resin epoxy adhesive was used. An average tensile strength of 20 MPa
and an elasticity modulus of 7 GPa were determined by Costa and
Barros [26] carrying out direct tensile tests according to the ISO 527-2
[27].

4
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al.
Fig. 4. Load vs. deflection at mid-span of the tested RC slabs of series: a) A, b) B,
c) C.
2.3. Test setup and monitoring system
All slab specimens were tested under four-point loading configura-
tion (Fig. 2d and 2e), and the load was applied in displacement control
mode at a rate of 1.2 mm/min. Fig. 3 shows details of the adopted
instrumentation in the tested slabs: five displacement transducers
(LVDT 1 to LVDT 5) were used to record the deflection of the slabs
(Fig. 3a); two strain gauges (SG-S1 and SG-S2) were utilized to measure
the strain on two longitudinal tensile steel bars (Fig. 3b); three strain
gauges (SG-L1, SG-L2 and SG-L3) were applied on two NSM CFRP la-
minates to evaluate the strain evolution in the considered sections
5
Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259
(Fig. 3c for the case of non-prestressed slabs, and Fig. 3d for the case of
prestressed slabs).
3. Experimental results and discussion
3.1. General behavior of one-way RC slabs flexurally strengthened with
prestressed NSM CFRP laminates
Fig. 4 shows the load vs. mid span deflection curves for the RC slabs
of the series A, B and C. Regardless of the tested series of the slabs, these
curves includes three major stages: until the cracking of the concrete;
between concrete cracking and yield initiation of the tensile steel re-
inforcement; and between tensile steel yield initiation and ultimate
load. In this last stage, the non-strengthened reference slabs (A-REF, B-
REF and C-REF, respectively, for series A, B and C) presented an almost
plastic behavior. The third stage of the strengthened slabs’ curve had
almost linear behavior. This was due to linear behavior of the CFRP
laminates, while steel reinforcement was yielded with concrete in its
cracking stabilized phase. In fact, the load carrying capacity of the
strengthened slabs has increased after the yield initiation up to the
CFRP laminates’ rupture, after which the load dropped to the reference
slab’ capacity. Regardless of the prestress level, the concrete strength
and the percentage of existing steel reinforcement, the tested CFRP
configuration increased the load carrying capacity of the RC slabs at
service and ultimate conditions.
Table 2 displays the main results of the tested series of RC slabs in
terms of cracking (Fcr), service (Fserv), yielding (Fsy) and maximum
(Fmax) loads. The values of the deflection at mid-span for the loads Fsy
(uFsy) and Fmax (uFmax) are also presented in Table 2. The service load
(Fserv) is the load corresponding to the maximum allowed deflection for
serviceability limit states (uFserv), which according to the Eurocode 2
[28] is l/250, where l is the clear length of the slab (l/250 = 2400 mm/
250 = 9.6 mm). The yielding load is assumed the load at which a
considerable decay of stiffness has occurred in the post cracking stage of
a tested slab.
According to the results of the Table 2, the application of NSM CFRP
laminates for the flexural strengthening of RC slabs has provided an
increase of Fcr with the prestress level. In fact, the values of Fcr of non-
prestressed slab (A-S0) and the average value of Fcr of prestressed slabs
(A-S20, A-S40 and A-S50) of series A are, respectively, 1.00 and 1.87
times the value of Fcr of the A-REF reference slab; the values of Fcr of
non-prestressed slab (B-S0) and the average value of Fcr of prestressed
slabs (B-S20 and B-S40) of series B are, respectively, 1.38 and 3.97
times the value of Fcr of the B-REF reference slab; finally, the values of
Fcr of non-prestressed slab (C-S0) and the average value of Fcr of pre-
stressed slabs (C-S20 and C-S40) of series C are, respectively, 1.07 and
2.02 times the value of Fcr of the C-REF reference slab.
The obtained values for the service load (Fserv) of the reference (A-
REF), non-prestressed (A-S0) and prestressed slabs (A-S20, A-S40 and
A-S50) of series A prove the advantages of the application of prestress
in the laminates. In fact, the load Fserv of non-prestressed slab and the
average value of Fserv of prestressed slabs are, respectively, 1.22 and
2.12 times the load Fserv of the reference slab. This tendency was also
verified in the slabs of series B (the value of Fserv of non-prestressed and
the average value of Fserv of prestressed slabs are, respectively, 1.42 and
2.57 times the load Fserv of the reference slab) and series C (the values of
Fserv of non-prestressed and the average value of Fserv of prestressed
slabs are, respectively, 1.09 and 1.60 times the value of Fserv of the
reference slab).
As occurred in terms of Fcr and Fserv, the yielding load (Fsy) has also
increased with the level of prestress. In fact, the load Fsy of non-pre-
stressed slab and the average value of Fsy of prestressed slabs of series A
are, respectively, 1.41 and 2.08 times the value of Fsy of the A-REF
reference slab; the value of Fsy of non-prestressed slab and the average
value of Fsy of prestressed slabs of series B are, respectively, 1.51 and
2.04 times the value of Fsy of the B-REF reference slab; finally, the value
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Table 2
Summary of the results in terms of load carrying capacity and deflection performance.
Series Slab Cracking Service Yielding Maximum

(1) (1) (1)

Fcr (kN) Fserv (kN) Fsy (kN) uFsy (mm) Fmax (kN) uFmax (mm)

A A-REF 12.1 (0.42) 15.2 (0.53) 24.7 (0.85) 24.2 28.9 81.1
A-S0 12.1 (0.20) 18.5 (0.30) 34.8 (0.57) 28.3 60.7 89. 8
A-S20 16.8 (0.25) 26.8 (0.41) 46.9 (0.71) 29.1 66.1 65.4
A-S40 24.0 (0.36) 33.7 (0.51) 52.8 (0.80) 27.4 66.0 50.3
A-S50 26.9 (0.42) 36.0 (0.57) 54.2 (0.85) 26.6 63.7 42.5
B B-REF 3.9 (0.16) 9.2 (0.39) 21.1 (0.89) 29.8 23.8 85.5
B-S0 5.4 (0.11) 13.1 (0.26) 31.8 (0.62) 32.0 51.1 102.9
B-S20 12.6 (0.24) 20.5 (0.38) 40.0 (0.75) 31.5 53.4 78.2
B-S40 18.4 (0.33) 26.7 (0.48) 45.9 (0.82) 31.5 55.7 58.8
C C-REF 9.4 (0.22) 18.2 (0.42) 35.8 (0.82) 27.5 43.5 97.0
C-S0 10.1 (0.14) 19.9 (0.28) 42.9 (0.60) 30.5 71.1 92.8
C-S20 16.4 (0.24) 25.8 (0.37) 50.0 (0.72) 31.5 69.0 71.2
C-S40 21.5 (0.30) 32.6 (0.46) 60.0 (0.84) 31.4 71.4 51.3

(1)
The values in parenthesis are percentage of related Fmax.

of Fsy of non-prestressed slab and the average value of Fsy of prestressed

slabs of series C are, respectively, 1.20 and 1.54 times the value of Fsy of
the C-REF reference slab.
For all of the tested series, the maximum load (Fmax) of the pre-
stressed slabs was similar to the Fmax of the non-prestressed slabs, since
all the strengthened slabs failed by the rupture of the CFRP. The values
of Fmax of strengthened slabs ranged from 60.7 kN to 66.1 kN in series A
(which is 2.10 to 2.29 times higher than the Fmax of the reference slab of
this series), from 51.1 kN to 55.7 kN in series B (which is 2.15 to 2.34
times higher than the Fmax of the reference slab of this series), and from
69.0 kN to 71.4 kN in series C (which is 1.59 to 1.64 times higher than
the Fmax of the reference slab of this series).
Since the increase of the prestress level provided an increase of the
cracking load of the slabs, but did not affect significantly the stiffness
and the load amplitude between crack initiation and yield initiation,
the deflection at yield initiation (uFsy) remained similar regardless of the
level of prestress. In fact, the deflection uFsy of the strengthened slabs
ranged from 26.6 mm to 29.1 mm in series A, from 31.5 mm to
32.0 mm in series B, and from 30.5 mm to 31.5 mm in series C. As the
initial strains in the CFRP laminates increased with prestress level, and
considering that the strengthened slabs failed by the tensile rupture of
the CFRP, the slab’s deflection at maximum load (uFmax) has decreased
with the prestress level (the values of uFmax in the non-prestressed, 20%,
40% and 50% prestressed slabs of series A are, respectively, 89.8 mm,
65.4 mm, 50.3 mm and 42.5 mm; the values of uFmax in the non-pre-
stressed, 20% and 40% prestressed slabs of series B are, respectively,
102.9 mm, 78.2 mm and 58.8 mm; and 92.8 mm, 71.2 mm and
51.3 mm for non-prestressed, 20% and 40% prestressed slabs of series
C).

3.2. Crack pattern, failure modes and strains in CFRP laminates

In all tested slabs, the first cracks occurred in the pure bending zone
(between the loaded sections). In the subsequent loading process, the
cracks became wider and new cracks started to initiate in the shear
spans of the slabs. The crack pattern of the slabs of series A (A-REF, A-
S0, A-S20, AS-40 and AS-50) at the end of the test is represented in
Fig. 5, where it is possible to see that the average distance between
cracks (dcr) measured in the tension face of the RC slabs has decreased
with the level of prestress (the values of dcr are 145 mm, 89 mm,
87.7 mm, 83 mm and 80 mm for the slabs, respectively, A-REF, A-S0, A-
S20, A-S40 and A-S50). For series B, the values of dcr are 126 mm,
101 mm, 86 mm and 79 mm in slabs, respectively, B-REF, B-S0, B-S20
and B-S40. For series C, the values of dcr are 111 mm, 86 mm, 84 mm Fig. 5. Crack patterns of the tested RC slabs (series A).

6
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 6. Failure modes of the tested RC slabs.

and 84 mm for the slabs, respectively, C-REF, C-S0, C-S20 and C-S40.
The analysis of the cracking process of the tested slabs up to their
failure has shown that the use of NSM technique with CFRP laminates
as a flexural strengthening leads to a decrease of the cracks’ widths.
Furthermore, due to the initial compressive strain field applied by the
prestress, the length of the slab’s cracked band (lcr,band) has decreased
with the increase of the level of prestress (Fig. 5): the values of lcr,band in
series A are 1452 mm, 1779 mm, 1579 mm, 1333 mm and 1284 mm for
the slabs, respectively, A-REF, A-S0, A-S20, A-S40 and A-S50; in series B
are 1639 mm, 1826 mm, 1550 mm and 1260 mm for the slabs, re-
spectively, B-REF, B-S0, B-S20 and B-S40; and in series C are 1776 mm,
1892 mm, 1681 mm and 1554 mm for the slabs, respectively, C-REF, C-
S0, C-S20 and C-S40.
Regardless of the tested series (A, B and C), the failure mode of the
reference slabs without CFRP occurred by the concrete crushing after
the yielding of the tensile steel reinforcements (Fig. 6a). In slabs A-REF,
B-REF and C-REF, a longitudinal steel bar has ruptured at a mid-span
deflection of 107 mm, 143 mm and 119 mm, respectively (Fig. 4). All of
the tested CFRP strengthened slabs failed by the rupture of the lami-
nates after the yielding of the tensile steel reinforcements (Fig. 6b).
In the column “Total” of Table 3 is indicated the maximum values of
strain recorded up to the maximum load (Fmax) in the strain gauges
applied to the CFRP laminates of the slabs. These values were obtained
adding the strain at the end of the prestressing process (column “Pre-
stressing”) to the maximum strain registered during the four point
bending test up to Fmax (column “Test”). It can be observed in Table 3
that the maximum CFRP strain values (column “Total”) was recorded in
SG-L1 (A-S0, A-S40, C-S0 and C-S40) and SG-L2 (slabs A-S20, A-S50,
BS-0, B-S20, B-S40 and C-S20), both positioned in the pure bending
zone (between the load sections). The average value of the maximum
CFRP strain for the tested slabs was 15.4‰ which corresponds to 98%
of its ultimate strain, therefore justifying the failure mode of tested
CFRP strengthened slabs and the high performance of the NSM tech-
nique with CFRP laminates for the flexural strengthening of one-way RC
slabs.
3.3. Effect of the prestress level on the performance of prestressed NSM
CFRP laminates
To assess the influence of the CFRP prestress level on the general

Table 3
Maximum strain values recorded in CFRP laminates’s strain gauges up to the maximum load of the slabs.
Series Slab SG-L1 (‰) SG-L2 (‰) SG-L3 (‰)

Prestressing Test Total Prestressing Test Total Prestressing Test Total

A A-S0 0.0 15.1 15.1 0.0 14.9 14.9 0.0 5.7 5.7
A-S20 3.0 11.1 14.1 3.0 12.2 15.2 3.0 4.8 7.8
A-S40 6.0 9. 6 15.5 5.9 9.0 14.9 6.1 2.1 8.2
A-S50 7.5 8.0 15.5 7.5 8.4 15.9 7.4 2.0 9.4
B B-S0 0.0 14.6 14.6 0.0 14.6 14.6 0.0 4.7 4.7
B-S20 3.1 11.9 14.9 3.2 11.8 15.0 3.1 4.0 7.1
B-S40 5.9 9.1 14.9 5.9 9.9 15.8 6.0 2.9 8.9
C C-S0 0.0 15.0 15.0 0.0 14.5 14.5 0.0 5.0 5.0
C-S20 3.0 11.7 14.7 3.1 11.9 15.0 3.0 3.6 6.6
C-S40 6.1 10.3 16.4 6.0 8.5 14.5 5.6 2.5 8.1

7
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Table 4
Influence of the prestress level in the effectiveness of prestressed NSM CFRP laminates technique.
Slab Level of prestress Fcr FcrRef (%) Ref
Fserv Fserv (%) Fsy FsyRef (%) Ref
Fmax Fmax (%) uFmax uFRef (%)
max

A-S0 0% 0 21.7 40.9 110.0 10.8

A-S20 20% 38.8 76.3 89.9 128.7 −19.3
A-S40 40% 98.3 121.7 113.8 128.4 −37.9
A-S50 50% 122.3 136.8 119.4 120.4 −47.5

behavior of the slabs, the values of loads (FcrStr , Fserv Str

, FsyStr and Fmax
corresponding deflection to Fmax Str
(u FStr
max
) of the strengthened
slabs of series A were compared with those corresponding values of the
reference slab (FcrRef , Fserv
Ref
, FsyRef and FmaxRef
and u FRefmax
). By considering these
values, the parameters Fcr FcrRef , Fserv Fserv Ref
, Fsy FsyRef , Fmax Fmax
uFmax uFRef were evaluated and included in Table
max
Fcr = FcrStr FcrRef , Str
Fserv = Fserv Ref
Fserv , Fsy = FsyStr FsyRef ,
Fmax = Fmax Fmax and u Fmax = u Fmax u Fmax .
Str Ref Str Ref
According the results of Table 4, a CFRP prestress level of 0%, 20%,
40% and 50% has provided an increase of, respectively, 0%, 38.8%,
98.3% and 122.3% in cracking load, an increase of, respectively,
21.7%, 76.3%, 121.7% and 136.8% in service load, an increase of, re-
spectively, 40.9%, 89.9%, 113.8% and 119.4% in yielding load, and an
increase of, respectively, 110.0%, 128.7%, 128.4% and 120.4% in
maximum load. The obtained results show that the maximum deflection
has increased in 10.8% for the prestress level of 0%, while it has de-
creased in 19.3%, 37.9% and 47.5% by applying a prestress level of,
respectively, 20%, 40% and 50%. Nonetheless, the level of ductility is
still very high in all prestressed slabs since at uFmax it was verified a
significant plastic incursion in the steel reinforcement.
Fig. 7a shows the effect of increasing the prestressing level on the
cracking, service, yielding, and ultimate loads with respect to the A-REF
reference slab and the non-prestressed strengthened slab A-S0. Ac-
cording to this figure, by increasing the prestressing levels significantly
increased the cracking, service and yielding loads, but had almost no
effect on the maximum loads (all of the strengthened slabs failed by the
rupture of the CFRP). Fig. 7b represents the effect of increasing the
prestress level on the deflection at yielding and ultimate loads, where it
is possible to conclude that existed a significant decrease of the de-
flection at ultimate load with the increase of the prestress level, but the
deflection at yield was not considerably affected by the prestress level.
Fig. 8a displays the relationship between the level of prestress and
the normalized value of energy consumed during the loading of the RC
slabs of series A. For this purpose, the energy consumed was evaluated
for each slab as the area under the load-deflection curve up to the uFmax
and the normalized value of energy was calculated for the following
two cases: the ratio between the energy of the strengthened slab and the
Str
) and energy of the reference slab (A-REF), and the ratio between the energy
prestressed of the prestressed strengthened slab and the energy of the non-pre-
stressed strengthened slab (A-S0). In both cases, by increasing the level
of prestress, the normalized absorption energy decreased almost line-
Ref
and arly.
4, where To assess the ductility performance of the slabs, the ductility index µ
was evaluated, which is defined as the ratio between deflection at mid-
span for Fmax (uFmax) and deflection at mid-span for yield initiation
(uFsy) of the slab ( µ =uFmax/uFsy). Fig. 8b displays, for the strengthened
slabs of series A, the relation between the normalized ductility index
(ratio between the ductility index of the prestressed strengthened slab
and the ductility index of the non-prestressed strengthened slab) and
the prestress level. Based on Fig. 8b, by increasing the prestress level,
the normalized ductility index decreased almost linearly.
3.4. Effect of the concrete strength on the performance of prestressed NSM
CFRP laminates
The effect of the concrete strength on the performance of the pre-
stressed NSM CFRP laminates was analyzed by the comparison of the
obtained results in series A and B (the difference between the slabs of
series A and B was only the concrete compressive strength:
fcm = 15 MPa in series B and fcm = 39.5 MPa in series A). For both
series, Table 5 shows the obtained values for the parameters Fcr FcrRef ,
Ref
Fserv Fserv , Fsy FsyRef , Fmax Fmax
Ref
and uFmax uFS0max .
According to the results of Table 5, the application of a CFRP
prestress level of 20% in the slabs with higher (series A) and lower
(series B) values of fcm increased the cracking load by 39% and 223%,
respectively, while 40% prestress level provided an increase of 98% and
372%, respectively. By applying 20% of prestress in RC slabs with
fcm = 39.5 MPa (series A) and fcm = 15 MPa (series B), the service load
has increased, respectively, 76% and 123%, while 40% prestress level
provided an increase of 122% and 190%, respectively. The increment of
yielding load of prestressed slabs was almost the same regardless of the
concrete quality (about 90% and 114%–118%, respectively, for 20%
and 40% prestress levels). The application of a CFRP prestress level of
20% in the slabs with higher (series A) and lower (series B) value of fcm

Fig. 7. Effect of the prestress level on: a) cracking, service, yielding and ultimate loads; and b) yielding and ultimate deflection (Series A).

8
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al.
Fig. 8. Influence of the prestress level on the (series A): a) normalized absorption energy; b) ductility index of prestressed versus non-prestressed slabs.
increased the ultimate load by 129% and 124%, respectively, while
40% prestress level provided an increase of 128% and 134%, respec-
tively. The decrease of the ultimate deflection of prestressed slabs
(compared to the corresponding values of slabs without prestress) was
almost the same regardless of the concrete strength (24%–27% and
43%–44%, respectively, for 20% and 40% prestress levels).
Fig. 9a, b and c shows that, regardless of the concrete strength, by
increasing the level of prestress in the NSM laminates, the load carrying
capacity of RC slabs at cracking, service and yielding has improved. The
influence of the level of prestress for the increase of the cracking and
service loads was more noticeable in the slabs with lower value of fcm.
By increasing the level of prestress, the increase of the yielding and the
ultimate load carrying capacity of the slabs with different concrete
compressive strength was almost the same (Fig. 9c and d). Increasing
the prestress level decreased the deflection at the maximum load and
the decrement was almost the same in both concrete strength class
(Fig. 9e). Therefore the strength of the concrete had almost no effect on
the maximum loads since the failure mode of all of the strengthened
slabs was governed by the rupture of the CFRP.
3.5. Effect of the percentage of tensile reinforcement on the performance of
prestressed NSM CFRP laminates
The effect of the percentage of the longitudinal reinforcement (ρsl)
on the performance of the prestressed NSM CFRP laminates was ana-
lyzed by comparing the obtained results in series A and C (the differ-
ence between the slabs of series A and C was the amount of the tensile
longitudinal reinforcement: 4ϕ8 in series A that corresponds to
ρsl = 0.39%, and 4ϕ10 in series C that corresponds to ρsl = 0.62%). For
both series, Table 6 shows the obtained values for the parameters
Fcr FcrRef , Fserv Fserv
Ref
, Fsy FsyRef , Fmax Fmax
Ref
and u Fmax u FS0
max
.
According to the results of Table 6, the application of a CFRP
prestress level of 20% in the slabs with lower (series A) and higher
(series C) values of ρsl increased the cracking load by 39% and 75%,
respectively, while 40% prestress level provided an increase of 98% and
129%, respectively. By applying 20% of prestress in RC slabs with
ρsl = 0.39% (series A) and ρsl = 0.62% (series C), the service load has
increased, respectively, 76% and 42%, while 40% prestress level pro-
vided an increase of 122% and 79%, respectively. By applying 20% of
prestress in RC slabs with lower and higher percentage of flexural re-
inforcement, the yielding load has increased, respectively, 90% and
40%, while 40% of prestress provided an increase of 114% and 68%,
respectively.
The application of a CFRP prestress level of 20% in the slabs with
lower (series A) and higher (series C) value of ρsl increased the ultimate
load by 129% and 59%, respectively, while 40% prestress level pro-
vided an increase of 129% and 64%, respectively. The decrease of the
ultimate deflection of prestressed slabs with lower and higher percen-
tage of flexural reinforcement was, respectively, 27% and 23%, by
9
Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259
applying 20% of prestress, while 40% of prestress has provided a de-
crease of 44% and 45%.
Fig. 10a, b and c shows that, regardless of the percentage of the
flexural reinforcement, by increasing the level of prestress in the NSM
laminates, the load carrying capacity of RC slabs in cracking, service
and yielding has increased. The influence of the level of prestress for the
increase of the service and yielding loads was more noticeable in the
slabs with lower percentage of flexural reinforcement, and this effect
for increasing the cracking loads was more noticeable in the slabs with
higher percentage of flexural reinforcement. With the increase of the
prestress level, the ultimate load of the slabs has not changed sig-
nificantly regardless of the percentage of flexural reinforcement
(Fig. 10d), and the deflection corresponding to maximum load has
decreased (Fig. 10e). Regardless of the level of prestress, with the de-
crease of the percentage of flexural reinforcement, the ultimate load of
the RC slabs has increased more significantly than the reference slab.
4. Analytical approach
An analytical approach was developed to predict the cracking,
yielding and maximum loads of RC slabs flexurally strengthened with
prestressed NSM CFRP laminates. Then, the predictive performance of
this analytical formulation was appraised by comparing the analytical
and experimental results. Furthermore, an upper limit for the prestress
level was proposed for ensuring a compromise of ductility and
strengthening effectiveness of the prestressed strengthened slabs.
Additionally, a parametric study was also executed to highlight the
influence of the percentage of tensile flexural reinforcement and the
concrete strength on the evaluation of the upper limit for the NSM CFRP
prestress level.
4.1. Cracking, yielding and maximum loads
The effect of the loads that will be on the RC structural member
during the installation of the CFRP system (initial strain level) should
be considered in the calculation of the RC strengthened member load
carrying capacity. In fact, the initial strain level was considered in the
developed analytical formulation, namely the following strains: in the
concrete on the bottom fiber of the cross section (εcr0); in the concrete at
the level of the centroid of the NSM CFRP laminates (εbi); in the long-
itudinal bottom steel bars (εs0); in the concrete on the top fiber of the
cross section (εc0).
For the case of a cross section flexurally strengthened with pre-
stressed NSM CFRP laminates, two different cases should be considered
for the initial strain level (case I and case II). In case I, it is supposed
that the concrete top fiber is in compression and the concrete bottom
fiber is in tension (the moment due to the loads that will be on the RC
slab during the installation of the CFRP system is positive). In case II,
the top and bottom fibers are considered in tension and compression,
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

max , where u Fmax is the deflection corresponding to Fmax of the strengthened slab without prestressed (A-S0 in series A and B-S0 in series B). The meaning of the others parameters was described
respectively (the moment due to the loads that will be on the RC slab

fcm = 39.5 MPa

during the installation of the CFRP system is negative).

4.1.1. Bending moment at crack initiation

−27.1
−44.0
– The strain and stress distribution along the height of slab’s cross
section and the balance of internal forces corresponding to the crack
(5)
max (%)

initiation state are indicated in Fig. 11. The strain compatibility be-
fcm = 15 MPa

tween constituent materials allows to obtain the strain in these mate-

u Fmax u FS0

rials from the concrete cracking tensile strain, cr , first occurred in the
−24.0
−42.9

concrete bottom surface (corresponding to the mean value of the axial

tensile strength of the concrete, fctm [28]), by using Eqs. (1)–(4). Taking
–

into account the internal force equilibrium of the cross section, Eq. (5)
is obtained.
fcm = 39.5 MPa

c =( cr ± cr 0 ).ccr (h ccr ) (1)

df ccr
110.0
128.7
128.4

f , cr =( ± cr 0 ). bi
cr
h ccr (2)
(%)(4)

s =( cr ± cr 0 ).(ds ccr ) (h ccr ) (3)

fcm = 15 MPa
Fmax Fmax
Ref

'
s =( cr ± cr 0 ).(ccr ds' ) (h ccr ) (4)
114.7
124.4
134.0

Ec . c. b . ccr
Fc + Fs' = Fcr + Fs + Ff + As' . Es. '
s
2
= Ec . ( cr ± cr 0 ).b .(h ccr ) 2 + As . Es. s + Af . Ef . ( p + f , cr )
fcm = 39.5 MPa

(5)
In the above mentioned equations the adopted symbols have the
113.8
40.9
89.9

following meaning (Fig. 11): b and h are the width and height of the
cross section of the RC slab, respectively; d's, ds and df are the effective
depth of the longitudinal top and bottom steel bars and CFRP laminates,
Fsy FsyRef (%)(3)

respectively; ccr is the distance from extreme compression fiber to the

fcm = 15 MPa

neutral axis; Ec, Es and Ef are the modulus of elasticity of the concrete,
steel and CFRP, respectively; A's, As, and Af are the cross sectional area
117.5
50.7
89.6

of the longitudinal top and bottom steel bars and CFRP laminates, re-
spectively; εp is the initial prestress strain in the CFRP laminates; εc and
Influence of the concrete strength (fcm) in the effectiveness of the prestressed NSM CFRP laminates.

ε's are the compressive strain of the concrete top fiber and longitudinal
fcm = 39.5 MPa

top steel bars, respectively; εs and εf,cr are the tensile strain of the
longitudinal bottom steel bars and CFRP laminates, respectively.
By substituting Eqs. (1) to (4) into (5), the neutral axis depth ccr can
121.7
21.7
76.3

be determined with Eq. (6). The bending moment corresponding to the

crack initiation is determined by adding the internal moments produced
Str

by the forces in relation to the neutral axis of the cross section (Eq. (7)).
(%)(2)

fcm = 15 MPa

p bi
Es. (As' . ds' + As . ds ) + Af .Ef . (df + .h) + 0.5b .h2 . Ec
Fserv Fserv
Ref

cr ± cr 0
ccr =
Es. (As' + As ) + Af . Ef . 1 + ( p bi
) + b . h. E
122.8
190.2

(6)
42.4

c
cr ± cr 0

Mcr
ccr2
fcm = 39.5 MPa

= As' . Es . s' . (ccr ds' ) + Ec . c . b. + Ec . b. ( cr ± cr 0 ).

3

(h ccr ) 2 3 + As .Es. s. (ds ccr ) + Af .Ef . ( p + f , cr ). (d f ccr )

38.8
98.3
0

(7)
S0

In “ ± ” of Eqs. (1)–(7), the negative sign should be adopted for the

Fcr FcrRef (%)(1)

fcm = 15 MPa

case I of the initial strain level (positive moment due to the loads that
will be on the RC slab during the installation of the CFRP), while the
positive sign should be adopted for the case II of the initial strain level
223.1
371.8
38.5

u FS0

(negative moment due to the loads that will be on the RC slab during
.
.

Fmax
Ref
Fserv
Ref
Fcr = FcrStr FcrRef .

Fsy = FsyStr FsyRef .

the installation of the CFRP). Moreover for the case I, εbi = 0 should be
max
in previous section.

considered in the Eqs. (2) and (6).

u Fmax = u FStr
Fmax = FmaxStr
Fserv = Fserv
Level of prestress

Str

4.1.2. Bending moment at yield initiation

To determine the bending moment corresponding to the yield in-
Table 5

itiation, some simplifications in relation to the previous adopted ap-

20%
40%
0%

(1)
(2)
(3)

(4)
(5)

proach are assumed. In fact, the contribution of the concrete in tension

10
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 9. Influence of the concrete strength in the effectiveness of the prestressed NSM CFRP laminates in terms of: a) cracking load; b) service load; c) yielding load; d)
maximum load; and e) maximum deflection.

for the resisting bending moment at yield initiation is neglected, and Ec . c. b. csy
Fc + Fs' = Fsy + Ff + As' . Es. '
= As . Es. ( sy ± s0)
the strain profile for the concrete in compression is assumed to be linear 2
s

(Fig. 12). Eqs. (8) to (10) present the geometric relationships between + Af . Ef . ( p + f , sy ) (11)
strains along the height of the cross section as a function of the steel
yield initiation strain, sy , while Eq. (11) represents the internal force In Fig. 12 and Eq. (11), fsy and εf,sy are, respectively, the steel stress
equilibrium of the cross section. and the tensile strain of the CFRP laminates, both at steel yield initia-
=( ± (8) tion. By substituting Eqs. (8) to (10) into Eq. (11), the neutral axis depth
c sy s 0 ). csy (ds csy )
csy can be determined with Eq. (12). The bending moment corre-
df csy sponding to the steel yield initiation is obtained by adding the internal
f , sy =( sy ± s 0 ). bi moments produced by the force components in relation to the neutral
ds csy (9)
axis of the cross section (Eq. (13)).
'
s =( sy ± s 0 ). (csy ds' ) (ds csy ) (10)

11
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Table 6
Influence of the percentage of flexural reinforcement (ρsl) in the effectiveness of the prestressed NSM CFRP laminates.
Level of (5)
Fcr FcrRef (%)(1) (%)(2) Fsy FsyRef (%)(3) (%)(4) max (%)
u Fmax u FS0
Ref Ref
Fserv Fserv Fmax Fmax
prestress
ρsl = 0.39% ρsl = 0.62% ρsl = 0.39% ρsl = 0.62% ρsl = 0.39% ρsl = 0.62% ρsl = 0.39% ρsl = 0.62% ρsl = 0.39% ρsl = 0.62%
(4ϕ8) (4ϕ10) (4ϕ8) (4ϕ10) (4ϕ8) (4ϕ10) (4ϕ8) (4ϕ10) (4ϕ8) (4ϕ10)

0% 0 7.4 21.7 9.3 40.9 19.8 110.0 63.4 – –

20% 38.8 74.5 76.3 41.8 89.9 39.7 128.7 58.6 −27.1 −23.3
40% 98.3 128.7 121.7 79.1 113.8 67.6 128.4 64.1 −44.0 −44.7

(1)
Fcr = FcrStr FcrRef .
(2) Str
Fserv = Fserv Ref
Fserv .
(3)
Fsy = FsyStr FsyRef .
(4)
Fmax = FmaxStr Ref
Fmax .
(5)
max , where u Fmax is the deflection corresponding to Fmax of the strengthened slab without prestressed (A-S0 in series A and C-S0 in series C).
Str
u Fmax = u FStrmax u FS0 S0

The meaning of the others parameters was described in previous section.

'
p bi c = 1.7f c' Ec (17)
[b .Ec 2]. csy 2 + As' .Es + As .Es + Af . Ef . 1 + . csy
sy ± s0
c =( fb + bi ).cfu (d f cfu ) (18)
p bi
As' .Es .ds' + As .Es .ds + Af . Ef . df + ds. =0 '
sy ± s0 (12) s =( fb + bi ). (cfu ds' ) (df cfu ) (19)

fb = fu p (20)
Msy
= As' .Es. s' . (csy ds' ) + Ec . c . b. csy2 3 + A s . Es. ( ± Substituting Eqs. (15) to (20) into Eq. (14) leads to Eq. (21), whose
sy s 0 ).
resolution provides the neutral axis depth at ultimate stage:
( ds csy ) + Af . Ef . ( p + f , sy ). (d f csy ) (13)
A. cfu 3 + B. cfu 2 + C . cfu + D = 0 (21)
In “ ± ” of Eqs. (8) to (13), the negative and positive sign should be
adopted, respectively, for the case I and case II of the initial strain level. A=( '
fb + bi ). f c . b . (3 c' + fb + bi )) 1.5 c'2. Ec . c 0. b (21a)
Moreover for the case I, εbi = 0 should be considered in the Eqs. (9) and
(12). B = 3. '
c. [( fb + ' '
bi ). c .Es .As ( fb + '
bi ). f c . b .d f
' '
+ c. (Af . Ef . fu + As . Es . ( sy ± s 0 )) ± c. Ec . c 0. b .df ] (21b)
4.1.3. Maximum bending moment
The experimental studies evidenced that the prevalent failure mode C= 3 c'2. [( + '
(df + ds' )
fb bi ).Es .As .
of the prestressed RC slabs is the rupture of the CFRP laminate due to
2
the attainment of its ultimate tensile strain fu ( fu = p + fb , where εp is + 2df .(Af . Ef . fu + A s . Es. ( sy ± s 0 ))±0.5df . Ec . c 0. b] 21c)
the initial strain due the prestress process and εfb is the subsequent
'2 ' '
tensile strain caused by the four point bending test (bending moment) D=3 c .df . [( fb + bi ).Es .As .ds + d f . (Af . Ef . fu + As . Es. ( sy ± s 0 ))]
(Fig. 13)). In this context, an equation was developed to obtain the (21d)
neutral axis depth cfu of the cross section at the ultimate stage con-
For the case I, εbi = 0 should be considered in the Eqs. (19), (21c),
sidering the strain in the CFRP laminate be equal to fu .
(21d) and first term of Eq. (21b) while for the case II, εbi = 0 should be
The distribution of strain and stress along the height of slab's cross
considered in the Eqs. (18), (21a) and second term of Eq. (21b).
section and the balance of internal forces corresponding to the ultimate
If Eq. (21) doesn’t have real root then failure will be due to the
state (Fig. 13) are based on ACI 440.2R-08 recommendations [29].
concrete crushing. In this case, the neutral axis depth should be eval-
Taking into account the internal force equilibrium of the cross section,
uated considering the ultimate compressive strain for the concrete top
it is obtained Eq. (14).
fiber. The geometric relationships between strains (Eqs. (22) and (23))
Ec . c 0. b. cfu are presented as a function of the ultimate compressive strain of the
± Fc 2 + Fc1 + Fs' = Fsy + Ffu ± + . f c' . 1. cfu. b + As' . s' . Es
2 1 concrete ( cu ). Substituting Eqs. (22) and (23) into Eq. (14) (with sub-
stituting cfu to ccu in Eq. (14)) with considering α1 = 0.85 and β1 based
= As . Es . ( sy ± s 0 ). +Af . Ef . ( p + fb ) (14)
on ACI-318 (ACI 2011) [21] recommendations for concrete crushing
In Eq. (14), f'c is the concrete compressive strength and α1 and β1 are failure mode leads to Eq. (24), whose resolution provides the neutral
parameters to define the rectangular compression stress block in the axis depth at ultimate stage:
concrete (Fig. 13). Eqs. (15) to (20) present the parameters α1 and β1
(22)
'
=( ± c 0 ). (ccu ds' ) ccu
and the geometric relationships between strains along the height of s cu

cross section (cfu is the distance from extreme compression fiber to the df ccu
neutral axis when the CFRP rupture is the governing failure mode; ε'c is fb =( ± c 0 ). bi
cu
ccu (23)
the strain at f'c). The geometric relationships between strains (Eqs. (18)
and (19)) are presented as a function of the tensile strain of the CFRP '
( ±0.5Ec . c 0. b+ 1. f c . 1. b). ccu 2 + [As' . Es . ( cu ± c0) As . Es. ( sy ± s0)
laminate caused by sum of the bending moment (εfb) and the initial
+ Af . Ef . ( ± + bi )]. ccu ( ± c 0 ). (As' . Es. ds' + Af . Ef . df ) = 0
strain (εbi). cu c0 cu

(24)
' '
= (4 c c) (6 c 2 c) (15)
The maximum bending moment corresponding to the failure con-
1

' '2 dition is determined by adding the internal moments produced by the
(16)
2
= (3 c. c) (3 c . 1)
1 c
force components (Eq. (25)).

12
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 10. Influence of the percentage of flexural reinforcement in the effectiveness of the prestressed NSM CFRP laminates in terms of: a) cracking load; b) service load;
c) yielding load; d) maximum load; and e) maximum deflection.

2
c xu for the case I and case II of the initial strain level.
Mmax = As' . Es . s' . (cxu ds' ) ± Ec . c 0. b. + '
1. f c . 1. b . c xu2.
3

1 1
+ As . Es . ( sy ± s 0 ). (ds cxu) + Af . Ef . (
fb
2 failure conditions
In the Eq. (25), the cxu will be equal to cfu in the case of CFRP rupture
failure mode, and will be equal to ccu in the case of concrete crushing
failure. The values of α1 and β1 should be considered related to each
failure modes. For the case I, εbi = 0 should be considered in the Eqs.
(23) and (24), In “ ± ” of Eqs. (14), (21b), (21c), (21d), (22), (23), (24)
and (25), the negative and positive sign should be adopted, respec-
tively, for the case I and case II of the initial strain level. In “ ” of Eq.
(21a), the positive and negative sign should be adopted, respectively,
+ p).(df cxu ) 4.1.4. Experimental vs. analytical results in terms of cracking, yielding and
(25)
The analytical values of the cracking (Fcr,Anal), yielding (Fsy,Anal) and
maximum (Fmax,Anal) load of the prestressed slabs of the experimental
program described in Section 2 are calculated considering, respectively,
the analytical values of the cracking (Mcr,Anal obtained using Eq. (7)),
yielding (Msy,Anal determined by Eq. (13)) and maximum (Mmax,Anal
obtained using Eq. (25)) resisting bending moment (Fcr,Anal = Mcr,Anal/
0.45, Fsy,Anal = Msy,Anal/0.45 and Fmax,Anal = Mmax,Anal/0.45, see Fig. 1).
The comparison of the analytical values with the experimental ones
(Fcr,exp, Fsy,exp and Fmax,exp) are indicated in Table 7.

13
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 11. Strain and stress diagram of the cross section and force components at crack initiation state.

The analytical values were obtained using the average values of the strain in the flexural reinforcement higher or equal to 0.005 at the ul-
material properties that are presented in Section 2.2 (for the elasticity timate stage.
modulus of the steel it was adopted Es = 200 GPa). The average ( p )
and coefficient of variation (Vp ) of the ratio between experimental and
analytical values for the stages corresponding to crack initiation, steel 4.2.1. Analytical formulation
yield initiation and failure conditions are also indicated in Table 7. A criterion that considers the strain compatibility between con-
Considering the use of the average values of the material properties for stituent materials and the principles of static equilibrium at ultimate
the calculation of the analytical values, the ratio between experimental limit condition for the flexural capacity of RC slabs strengthened with
and analytical values higher than 1.0 is synonymous of safety condition. prestressed NSM CFRP laminates is herein proposed for determining the
The results obtained evidence that the analytical method is quite ac- upper limit for the prestress level that assures a compromise in terms of
curate since, for the three analyzed scenarios, the average value ( p ) ductility and strengthening effectiveness for this type of structural
varied between 1.11 and 1.18, and the coefficient of variation (Vp ) elements.
varied between 6% and 26% (the slab B-S0, in terms of the cracking The governing failure mode in the present analytical approach is the
load, was not considered in this analysis due an abnormal value of the CFRP rupture due to the attainment of its ultimate tensile strain. The
ratio Fcr,exp/Fcr,Anal). According to the results of Table 7, the analytical allowable prestress level in the CFRP laminate is considered as:
approach provides safe results for all of the prestressed RC slabs in the
case of yielding and maximum load. p = fu fb (26)
Fig. 14a, c and e compare the experimental and analytical values in
terms of cracking (Fcr), yielding (Fsy) and maximum (Fmax) loads for the
RC slabs of the three series of tests (A, B and C), being visible the very
good predictive performance for the three groups of tested slabs in 4.2.1.1. Prestress level with sufficient degree of ductility
special for the loads Fsy and Fmax. Fig. 14b, d and f show the above (εs = 0.005 ≥ εsy). The distribution of strain and stress of the cross
mentioned relationship in terms of the level of prestress, indicating that section in RC slabs are assumed those represented in Fig. 15. The stress
the level of predictive performance is similar for the considered pres- profile is according to ACI 440.2R-08 [29] approach, by assuming a
tress levels. tensile strain of 0.005 in the longitudinal steel bars (εs = 0.005 ≥ εsy)
when the rupture of the CFRP laminate occurs.
The internal force equilibrium of the cross section is provided by Eq.
4.2. Allowable maximum prestress level (14), with β1, α1 and ε'c obtained from Eqs. (15) to (17). Eqs. (27) and
(28) present the geometric relationships between strains along the
Based on the obtained experimental results, the use of NSM tech- height of cross section as a function of steel strain, s = 0.005.
nique with prestressed CFRP laminates for the flexural strengthening of
RC slabs reduces the ductility of the original structural member. c = 0.005. csd (ds csd ) (27)
According to ACI 440.2R-08 [29] recommendations, to maintain a
sufficient degree of ductility, the strain level in the steel reinforcements
(28)
'
= (0.005 ± s 0 ). (csd ds' ) (ds csd)
at the ultimate limit state (concrete crushing or tensile failure of the s

FRP) should be at least 0.005. Therefore to guarantee an acceptable

Substituting Eqs. (15) to (17), (27) and (28) into Eq. (14) (with
degree of ductility for the RC slabs flexurally strengthened with pre-
substituting cfu to csd in Eq. (14)) leads to Eq. (29) that determines the
stressed NSM CFRP laminates, the highest level of prestress in the CFRP
neutral axis csd.
laminates should be limited in order to allow the development of tensile

Fig. 12. Strain and stress diagram of the cross section and force components at yield initiation state.

14
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 13. Strain and stress diagram of the cross section and force components at failure state, based on ACI 440.2R-08 [29] (FRP rupture as a failure mode).

Table 7
Experimental vs. analytical results in terms of cracking, yielding and maximum loads.
Series Slab Cracking load Yielding load Maximum load

Fcr,exp (kN) Fcr,Anal (kN) Fcr,exp/Fcr,Anal Fsy,exp (kN) Fsy,Anal (kN) Fsy,exp/Fsy,Anal Fmax,exp (kN) Fmax,Anal (kN) Fmax,exp/Fmax,Anal

Series A A-S0 12.1 7.1 1.70 34.8 28.4 1.23 60.7 56.6 1.07
A-S20 16.8 16.4 1.02 46.9 35.2 1.33 66.1 56.5 1.17
A-S40 24.0 25.6 0.94 52.8 42.0 1.26 66.0 56.2 1.17
A-S50 26.9 30.3 0.89 54.2 45.3 1.20 63.7 56.0 1.14
Series B B-S0 5.4 0.8 6.75 31.8 28.3 1.12 51.1 36.9 1.38
B-S20 12.6 10.4 1.21 40.0 35.2 1.14 53.4 42.6 1.25
B-S40 18.4 19.0 0.97 45.9 41.5 1.11 55.7 48.0 1.16
Series C C-S0 10.1 7.2 1.40 42.9 38.2 1.12 71.1 64.7 1.10
C-S20 16.4 16.5 0.99 50.0 44.9 1.11 69.0 65.4 1.06
C-S40 21.5 26.0 0.83 60.0 51.9 1.16 71.4 65.5 1.09
Bias p 1.11 p 1.18 p 1.16
Coefficient variation VP 0.26 VP 0.06 VP 0.08

[0.005. fc' . b. (3 c' + 0.005) 1.5 c'2. Ec . c 0.b)]. csd3 + 3 '

c
RC slab due to the eccentricity (e = df-h/2) of the prestressing load (Fp).
' In Eqs. (32) and (33), Pr is the applied CFRP prestress level.
. [(0.005 ± s 0 ). c .Es . As' 0.005. fc' . b . ds + '
c.
p
(Af .Ef . fu + As . Es. ( sy ± s 0 )) ± '
c. Ec . c 0. b .ds]. csd 2 3 '2 Pr =
c
fu (32)
. [(0.005 ± s 0 ).Es. As' . (ds + ds' ) + 2ds .(Af . Ef . fu + A s . Es .
2 '2
Fp = Pr . Af . f fu (33)
( sy ± s 0 ))±0.5ds . Ec . c 0. b]. csd + 3 c .ds

. [(0.005 ± Es .As' .ds' + ds . (Af .Ef . The above mentioned upward deflection causes a tensile strain at
s 0 ). fu + As . Es. ( sy ± s 0 ))] =0
the top fiber of the cross section. Therefore, after releasing the pre-
(29)
stressing load, tensile stress at the concrete top fiber should not be
The maximum prestress strain that can be applied to the CFRP la- larger than the concrete tensile strength ( fctm ) , which can be ensured by
minate with a sufficient degree of ductility in prestressed strengthened accomplishing Eq. (34) where I is the moment of inertia of un-cracked
RC slabs is determined by: section and c 0, vl is the strain of the concrete top fiber due to the initial
vertical loads.
0.005. (df csd )
fb = bi p1 = fu fb
ds csd (30) Fp. e.
h
Fp fctm + Ec . c 0, vl p
2
fctm = Ec . c 0, vl Pr =
Either the obtained concrete compressive strain (εc) exceed the ul- I b. h Af . f fu .
e.h 1
fu
2.I b.h
timate compressive strain in the concrete (εcu) or Eq. (29) doesn’t have
fctm + Ec . (fctm + Ec . c 0, vl ). fu
positive real root then failure will be due to the concrete crushing. In
c 0, vl
= p2 =
e.h 1 e.h 1
this case, the neutral axis depth should be evaluated considering the Af . f fu . 2.I b.h
Af . f fu . 2.I b.h (34)
ultimate compressive strain for the concrete top fiber and tensile strain
equal to 0.005 for the steel reinforcement, and then the neutral axis
depth ccu and the maximum prestress strain are determined from: 4.2.2. Upper limit for the prestress level
The algorithm of the analytical approach described in previous
0.005. (df ccu ) section to determine the allowable prestress level is indicated in Fig. 16.
ccu = ds . cu (0.005 + cu ) fb = bi p1
ds ccu The proposed analytical approach was applied to the prestressed RC
= fu fb (31) slabs of the series A, B and C and an allowable prestress level (upper
limit) applicable to the NSM CFRP laminates was obtained (Table 8).
For the case II, εbi = 0 should be considered in the Eqs. (30) and It is verified that the concrete compressive strength has an im-
(31). In “ ± ” of Eqs. (27) to (31), the negative and positive sign should portant effect on limiting the maximum allowable prestress level in the
be adopted, respectively, for the case I and case II of the initial strain NSM CFRP laminates in terms of Ɛp2/Ɛfu. In fact the parameter Ɛp2/Ɛfu
level. In “ ” of Eq. (29), the positive and negative sign should be for the RC slabs with fcm equal to 15 MPa and 39.5 MPa was, respec-
adopted, respectively, for the case I and case II of the initial strain level. tively, 60.6%, and 119.1%. The maximum allowable prestress level (Ɛp/
Ɛfu) for the slabs of series A (fcm = 39.5 MPa and ρsl = 0.39%), series B
4.2.1.2. Maximum prestress level without concrete cracking. After (fcm = 15 MPa and ρsl = 0.39%) and series C (fcm = 39.5 MPa and
releasing the prestressing load, an upward deflection is applied to the ρsl = 0.62%) was 56.2%, 52.5% and 55%, respectively, which indicates

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M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 14. Experimental vs. analytical results of: a) cracking load in series of slabs; b) cracking load for the prestress levels; c) yielding load in series of slabs; d) yielding
load for the prestress levels; e) maximum load in series of slabs; f) maximum load for the prestress levels.

Fig. 15. Strain and stress profile of the cross section at ultimate stage adopting rupture of the CFRP reinforcement based on ACI 440.2R-08 [29].

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M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Fig. 16. Algorithm of the analytical model to determine the allowable prestress level.

Table 8 and the support and load conditions were the same ones of the speci-
Allowable prestress level for the series of the tests (A, B and C). mens of the experimental program described in the Section 2.
Series Series A Series B Series C
Table 9 displays, for each of the 25 RC slabs that were analyzed, the
main results of the parametric study: the prestress level that assures a
Ɛp1/Ɛfu (%) 56.2 52.5 55.0 sufficient degree of the ductility for RC slabs flexurally strengthened
Ɛp2/Ɛfu (%) 119.1 60.6 119.1 with prestressed NSM CFRP laminates (Ɛp1/Ɛfu); the prestress level that
Max. prestress level (%) 56.2 52.5 55.0
assures no cracks in the concrete (Ɛp2/Ɛfu). The adopted value for the
upper limit for the prestress (Ɛp/Ɛfu) is the minimum of the values ob-
tained for Ɛp1/Ɛfu and Ɛp2/Ɛfu. Fig. 17 presents the influence of the fcm
(concrete strength) and the percentage of existing flexural reinforce-
the tendency of the decrease of Ɛp/Ɛfu either with the increase of the ment (ρsl) on the evaluation of the aforementioned upper limit for the
tensile steel reinforcement ratio or with the decrease of the concrete prestress level (Ɛp/Ɛfu).
compressive strength. The values of Table 9 shows that Ɛp2/Ɛfu is very sensitive to the
concrete strength. In fact the values of Ɛp2/Ɛfu for the RC slabs with fcm
4.3. Parametric study equal to 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 MPa were, respectively, 75.2%,
120.0%, 154.1%, 170.5% and 183.6%. Furthermore, according to the
In this section a parametric study is carried out in order to estimate results of the Table 8, for the RC slabs of the series B (fcm = 15 MPa) the
the influence of the strength of the concrete (by using its average value obtained value of Ɛp2/Ɛfu was 60.6%.
of the compressive strength, fcm) and the percentage of existing flexural According to Fig. 17 and the values of Table 9 it is possible to
reinforcement (ρsl) on the evaluation of the upper limit for the prestress conclude that regardless the strength of the concrete and the percentage
level for ensuring a compromise of ductility and strengthening effec- of existing flexural reinforcement adopted, the maximum level of
tiveness of RC slabs flexurally strengthened with prestressed NSM CFRP prestress is around 50% (ranged between 49.1% and 56.8%). The ob-
laminates. It was tested five values for fcm (20 MPa, 40 MPa, 60 MPa, tained results show that the upper limit for the prestress level (Ɛp/Ɛfu)
80 MPa and 100 MPa) and five values for ρsl (0.39%, 0.62%, 0.91%, decrease with the increase of ρsl, and, for each value of ρsl (until ρsl equal
1.25% and 1.65%). The geometry of the RC slabs, the arrangement of to 1.25%), Ɛp/Ɛfu is almost insensitive to values of fcm higher than
the steel reinforcement, the material properties of the steel and CFRP, 40 MPa.

17
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al. Composite Structures 245 (2020) 112259

Table 9
Results of the parametric study about the maximum level of prestress.
fcm (MPa) Tensile steel reinforcement (Ratio of tensile steel reinforcement – ρsl)

4ϕ8 (ρsl = 0.39%) 4ϕ10 (ρsl = 0.62%) 4ϕ12 (ρsl = 0.91%) 4ϕ14 (ρsl = 1.25%) 4ϕ16 (ρsl = 1.65%)

Ɛp1/Ɛfu Ɛp2/Ɛfu Ɛp/Ɛfu Ɛp1/Ɛfu Ɛp2/Ɛfu Ɛp/Ɛfu Ɛp1/Ɛfu Ɛp2/Ɛfu Ɛp/Ɛfu Ɛp1/Ɛfu Ɛp2/Ɛfu Ɛp/Ɛfu Ɛp1/Ɛfu Ɛp2/Ɛfu Ɛp/Ɛfu
(%) (%) (%) (1) (%) (%) (%)(1) (%) (%) (%)(1) (%) (%) (%)(1) (%) (%) (%)(1)

20 52.5 75.2 52.5 51.7 75.2 51.7 50.9 75.2 50.9 50.0 75.2 50.0 49.1 75.2 49.1
40 56.2 120.0 56.2 55.0 120.0 55.0 53.6 120.0 53.6 51.9 120.0 51.9 49.1 120.0 49.1
60 56.5 154.1 56.5 55.5 154.1 55.5 54.3 154.1 54.3 53.0 154.1 53.0 51.5 154.1 51.5
80 56.7 170.5 56.7 55.7 170.5 55.7 54.6 170.5 54.6 53.5 170.5 53.5 52.2 170.5 52.2
100 56.8 183.6 56.8 55.9 183.6 55.9 54.8 183.6 54.8 53.7 183.6 53.7 52.4 183.6 52.4

(1)
Max. prestress level.

Fig. 17. Influence of the ρsl and fcm on the evaluation of the upper limit for the
prestress level for ensuring a compromise of ductility and strengthening effec-
tiveness.
5. Conclusions
To appraise the influence of the CFRP prestress level, concrete
strength and percentage of existing flexural reinforcement on the per-
formance of one-way RC slabs flexurally strengthened with prestressed
NSM CFRP laminates, an extensive experimental program was carried
out. An analytical formulation was developed for the prediction of the
cracking, yielding and maximum loads of this type of structural ele-
ments. Additionally, a procedure was proposed to calculate an upper
limit for the prestress level applicable to the CFRP laminates. From the
obtained experimental results and the application of the analytical
approach it is possible to extract the following conclusions:
• Regardless of the CFRP prestress level, the strength of the concrete
and the percentage of existing flexural reinforcement adopted in this
experimental program, the NSM technique using CFRP laminates is
highly effective for the flexural strengthening of RC slabs. In fact,
the adopted CFRP strengthening configuration (ρf = 0.085%) has
provided an increase of the maximum load ranged between 59% and
134%.
• A considerable increase of the load carrying capacity at service limit
states (SLS) was observed in the strengthened RC slabs with the
proposed technique. The adopted prestressed NSM CFRP config-
urations (ranged between 20% and 50%) for the flexural strength-
ening of RC slabs with two concrete strength classes and two steel
reinforcement ratios have increased the service load of the
strengthened slabs from 42% to 190% of the service load of the
reference slabs.
• In the strengthened RC slabs with prestressed CFRP laminates the
deflection at maximum load (uFmax) was more than 1.6 times the
deflection at yield initiation (uFsy), with substantial plastic incursion
of the steel bars, which guarantees the required level of ductility for
the RC slabs. However, it was verified a decrease of the ductility
level of these slabs with the increase of the CFRP prestressed level.
• Regardless of the CFRP prestress level, the strength of the concrete
and the percentage of existing flexural reinforcement adopted in this
experimental program, all strengthened slabs failed by the tensile
rupture of the CFRP after yielding of the tensile steel reinforcements,
indicating an excellent performance of the NSM CFRP technique for
the flexural strengthening of RC slabs.
• When the same arrangements of NSM CFRP laminates were applied
in slabs of concrete compressive strength (fcm) equal to 15 MPa and
in slabs of fcm = 39.5 MPa, the obtained experimental results proved
that the adopted strengthening technique is more effective in slabs
with lower concrete strength class (fcm = 15 MPa), mainly at ser-
viceability limit state (the average increase of the service load for
the prestressed RC slabs with lower and higher compressive strength
was, respectively, 157% and 99%).
• When the same arrangements of NSM CFRP laminates were applied
in slabs with a percentage of the longitudinal tensile reinforcement
(ρsl) equal to 0.39% (4ϕ8) and in slabs with ρsl equal to 0.62%
(4ϕ10), the obtained experimental results showed that the adopted
strengthening technique is more effective in the case of the slabs
with lower percentage of the longitudinal bars, both for service-
ability (the average increase of the service load for prestressed RC
slabs with lower and higher ρsl was, respectively, 99% and 60%) and
for ultimate limit states (the average increase of the maximum load
for the prestressed RC slabs with lower and higher ρsl was, respec-
tively, 129% and 61%).
• Taking into account the experimental results obtained in the tested
slabs, the performance of a proposed analytical formulation for the
prediction of the cracking, yielding and maximum loads of a RC slab
flexurally strengthened using NSM technique with prestressed CFRP
laminates was appraised. A very good predictive performance was
obtained.
• A methodology to obtain an upper limit of the prestress level that
can be applied to the CFRP laminates was proposed in order to
ensure the aimed ductility performance of the prestressed RC slabs
strengthened with NSM CFRP laminates. Furthermore, a parametric
study was executed to highlight the influence of the percentage of
existing tensile flexural reinforcement (ρsl) and the concrete strength
(fcm) on the evaluation of the upper limit for the prestress level for
ensuring a compromise of ductility and strengthening effectiveness.
Regardless of the adopted values of ρsl and fcm, the maximum level of
prestress was around 50% (ranged between 49.1% and 56.8%). The
obtained results show that the upper limit for the prestress level (Ɛp/
Ɛfu) decrease with the increase of ρsl, and, for each value of ρsl (until
ρsl equal to 1.25%), Ɛp/Ɛfu is almost insensitive to values of fcm
higher than 40 MPa.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
M.R. Mostakhdemin Hosseini: Investigation, Validation, Writing -
original draft. S.J.E. Dias: Methodology, Supervision, Writing - review

18
M.R.M. Hosseini, et al.
& editing. J.A.O. Barros: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing -
review & editing.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influ-
ence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided by the
“Empreiteiros Casais” and S&P®. This work was supported by FEDER
funds through the Operational Competitiveness and
Internationalization Programme (POCI) and National Funds through
FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the
project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030956.
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